Cheers, Louisville fans! A first look at Cardinal Stadium's new Angel's Envy Bourbon Club
Normally, Josh Heird conceded, he's "not a huge fan of drinking bourbon at 10:30" on a weekday morning.
The Louisville athletic director was willing to make an exception Thursday at Cardinal Stadium, happy to toast the opening (sort of) of the new Angel's Envy Bourbon Club.
"If there was ever a time to do it, this Thursday, today at 10:30 might be a time to do that," Heird said, not long before he raised a glass with Angel's Envy general manager Gigi DaDan.
Angel’s Envy contributed a $4 million gift to the renovation of the 18,000-square foot space, formerly known as the Brown & Williamson Club. It will be available for community and corporate events.
It will open for Louisville football's home opener next Friday against Florida State. And in theory it will be finished then.
The space looks ready now, but it's "not 100% complete," Heird said. There still were workers in hardhats walking through the space Thursday. Asked about a sprint to complete it, Heird said "The finish line is next Friday at noon," and even that he altered.
"The timeline is Sept. 16 at 7:30," Heird said, referencing the kickoff time of the Florida State game. "So they're going to be working on it until about that time."
The renovated club runs the length of the Cardinal Stadium field, features a new steel mezzanine with a double staircase that connects its two levels. There are 14-foot by 24-foot LED screens at either end of the club with new TVs and a new audio system throughout the space. In the middle of the club is a large custom barrel system built by K-RAX that Heird called "the centerpiece of of this club space."
In the works:Better Wi-FI and concessions? Louisville football announces Cardinal Stadium upgrades
Originally announced in May, the newly named Angel's Envy Bourbon Club is the "showpiece" of Louisville's offseason upgrades at Cardinal Stadium but not the only one. The in-stadium WiFi has been upgraded along with more resources to make entry into games quicker and easier. Additionally, Louisville fans can expect quicker wait times for concessions with the installation of Grab and Go Stations.
The upgrades were brought about after U of L consulted feedback received from ticket holders during and after the 2021 season.
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter at @Alexis_Cubit.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville fooball: Cardinal Stadium Angel's Envy Bourbon Club opens
